Audi A5 (2011)

12,066 real MOT outcomes analysed • 82.9% first-time pass rate

2011 Audi A5

CarHunch analysed 12,066 real MOT records for the 2011 Audi A5. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

The 2011 Audi A5 passes its MOT slightly above the UK average at 82.9%, though nearly half of these cars have recorded a dangerous defect at some point—a significantly higher rate than typical and a legitimate concern for any buyer. Petrol versions edge ahead of diesels with an 84.5% pass rate versus 82.0%, suggesting marginally better long-term durability on petrol.

At 80,000 miles on average, these 14-year-old cars show reasonable mileage for their age, but they're generating 2.38 failures per test and a substantial 16 advisories each, indicating wear is catching up. Before purchase, get a full pre-buy inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and cooling systems—the volume of advisories suggests these areas accumulate issues quickly on this model.

Below average reliability 2.9% above UK average
82.9%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
85,125
typical mileage
67,099–106,312 middle half
47.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.38
avg MOT failures per car
over 12.9 tests on record

Petrol vs Diesel

Pass rate difference of 2.4 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.

84.5%
Petrol
4,386 vehicles
82.1%
Diesel
7,680 vehicles

What to check before buying a 2011 Audi A5

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 47.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Audi A5

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (64%) 7,680 82.1% 2.51
Petrol (36%) 4,386 84.5% 2.14

Mileage Distribution

Most 2011 Audi A5 vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

67,099
low mileage
85,125
typical
106,312
high mileage

Half of all 2011 Audi A5 vehicles fall between 67,099 and 106,312 miles.

2011 Audi A5 — Still on the Road

8,793 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 — 77% of the peak remain.

11,443 8,793 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

12.9
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.38
Avg failures per vehicle
16
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2011 Audi A5

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 48.3%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 48.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 37.7%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 32.4%
    Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 32.3%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 32%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 31.7%
    Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 30.8%
    Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2011. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Audi A5?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Audi A5:

2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021